PROPOSAL 2 NGOs that have been duly registered to continue receiving foreign funding. 4.4 CRIMINALISATION The penalties stipulated in the Bill for contravening are harsh and unnecessary. Should the government retain the provision, it is prudent to allow NGOs, which do not comply with the necessary provisions to be given enough, time to wind up and not for the government to take over the assets. PROPOSAL 1 Each organization that fails to comply should be given the option to dispose of the assets in a way it deems fit and as stated in its constitution as long as it does not contravene the Common laws of the country. 5.CONCLUSION ZESN is of the view that it is in the national interest that there be a more friendly legal framework governing the NGO community. This would be in keeping with the values of the various international, continental and regional bodies that we are members of. Indeed, it would also be in keeping with our own Bill of Rights as articulated in our constitution. The country’s credibility was on the mend with government’s move towards electoral reform. However, that this piece of legislation has already done the opposite. Civic society has a duty to monitor and observe the forthcoming elections, conduct civic and voter education and supplement the work of electoral management bodies. 11